Elizabeth Line: First look at new trains being tested in tunnels beneath London ahead of December launch

Elizabeth line trains can be seen travelling at 60mph through tunnels underneath London in the first footage released of the new line.

The video provides a first glimpse at the new tunnels and the scale of the work taking place in preparation for Crossrail’s launch this December.

The trains are currently being tested between Abbey Wood, in south east London, and Canary Wharf using a new automatic train control system.

The platform screen doors are now in place, while the installation of overhead power equipment was also successfully completed this week.

Hundreds of test runs will be carried out over the following months as the £15bn line reaches the final stages of preparation.

Simon Wright, Crossrail Chief Executive & Programme Director said: “Construction of the Elizabeth line is now in its final stages with a huge effort underway to complete and commission this fantastic new railway.

“Significant progress continues to be made with station fit-out heading towards completion, installation of platform screen doors complete, electrical equipment being switched on and train testing in the tunnels underway.”

The line, named in honour of the Queen, is expected to open in phases just before Christmas with passengers set to use 10 new state of the art stations across London and the south east.

The first stage will see Paddington’s new Elizabeth Station open and link with Abbey Wood via central London.

When complete, Crossrail, Europe’s largest infrastructure project, will run from Reading and Heathrow to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.

Mark Wild, Managing Director of London Underground and the Elizabeth line, said it’s “great to see testing ramping up beneath the streets of London”.

“The brand new trains that will provide better, quicker and more comfortable journeys for hundreds of thousands of people each day are now running through the tunnels at speeds of up to 60mph,” he added.

“Much more hard work is still to be done on completing stations, testing signalling and training staff.”

The first Elizabeth line trains came into service in east London between Liverpool Street and Shenfield in June last year.

And its first Tube roundels were recently installed at stations across the capital.

New images were released of the purple TfL signs at Custom House, Farringdon and Tottenham Court Road stations in February.